"We got lucky, storm do pass us." Red said

Cloud look at the horizon in the distant storm could be seen, even here wind was howling and some storm were top of them. Dark sky did pour rain down in the distance, thunder could be heard, he also did see lighting strike the ground.

"Least most of it."

Chocobo what he ride, moved little restlessly, this bird wanted to get on move again. Rust was it name, it was because it had brow feathers. They had say that Rust was little eager, but it had speed and endurance to this hunt. It was little surprising they have give him this kind of Chocobo and give him so much trust.

"Well let's go farm where the attack happen, it should be that way." Cloud said pointed a hill at the distance.

"Time to hunt." Red said and turned towards the horizon.

I took them two days to get to farm where attack did happen, they went pass the hill anf follow other landmarks that have given to them

They did make a camp for the night at next to small pond on grassland, it had small hunting lodge and some trees. Cloud but chocobo on the fence next to hut and give it some food.

They make fire on the small fireplace and make they own meals.

After a while Red turned his one-eye towards him.

"So we are hunting some kind of behemoth?" Red asked.

"So they are saying."

"You are not sure?"

"Some who had seen it say it look like behemoth, thought it don't make much noise."

"Normal behemoth usually roars a lot." Red said.

"Yeah we did run on in Midgar, there underground shinra lab, it was among monsters and experiments what get loose when sector 7 plate did fall. That beast roar was deafening."

"They also said this beast is not as big as full grown one."

"Big adults usually have they territories already, this might be young one that looks his own area." Red said thoughtfully.

"Do you know anything else about this behemoth."

"They call this beast Shadowcreep."

"It has cause that much trouble it has a name?"

"So it seems."

"How did you find this hunt." Red asked.

"When I did arrive in town, I went to one store to look some supplies and hints for a jobs."

"One of them did noticed my eyes and my sword, he directed me this older man."

"That old man who give this job did tell that this monster had killed his daughters, one she was wife of local farmer, whose farm we are going."

"Two daughters?"

"Yeah, other one was visiting her sister night when beast did attack."

"Later he lost his son-in-law because he and few his friends went after the beast"

"Personal avenge then."

"So it's seems, they also did suspect that this same monster had struck before few other places."

"But that he is ready to put his trust to ex-Soldier who just arrive at the town, tells something."

"I did give him Sam's Delivery Lifetime Pass as pledge I would come back. So he give me that chocobo Rust.

"Sam?"

"In Midgar I helped man call Chocobo-Sam, in return to favour he give me a pass that I could use his company delivery services. He recognized the pass and said that he had done some business with Sam long way back."

"Still quite big risk from his part, he don't know much about you." Red asked

"Yeah, but he seemed quite desperate, almost driven."

"Maybe revenge is everything he has left." Red said looking at the fire.

Cloud nod, he did understand wanting revenge death of love one.

"Did his daughter and her husband had children on the farm?" Red asked after a while.

"I think they had." Cloud said quietly.

They didn't say anything after that.

Next morning they they continued, map that Cloud had was good and at evening they arrive they destination.

Sun was already going down at horizon, but here were still light left. Farmhouse and other building had been made of stones and solid wood. It had been decent size farm, guess it has been prosperous one.

There were remains of dead chocobo on middle of the yard, thought only few feathers and bones were left. Few crows were picking last shreds of meat out of it.

Rust the chocobo, he was riding moved little restlessly, when it get near carcass, Cloud guided it front of the main house.

Cloud did dismounted and looked at main house it was solid stone and looked more like fortress, but now it looked ominous and was quiet.

"I take look around the main house." Cloud said, when Red come next to him.

"I'll take look around and try to get a scent." Red said and walked away.

Main entrance had two doors, other one mostly intact, but other one was fallen inside and was broken in pieces. Like something big and strong had broke trough it. There was dried blood on the floor.

Perhaps farmer had open the door and that moment beast did break in.

Main hall was torn, Cloud could see claw marks on the floor and broken furnitures.

Cloud walked upstairs staircase was mostly intact, house had been built using mostly stone, thought the staircase had some damage. House might had been standing for generations, it would be likely that someone might purchase this farm later, when Shadowcreep was gone.

Cloud walked in room what he assume was master bedroom. It door was complete broken in pieces. Remains of the bed were shattered on the wall and floor, Cloud could see bed had been big and sturdy, but something had toss it aside like toy.

Then he noticed the cot, it stand on the corner, unlike anything else it was intact.

Then Cloud noticed something on the cot and picked it up, small doll or figure, it was some kind of swordsman, kids toy. Cloud turned it a little, then he recognized it.

Famous war-hero with long blade. Cloud smash it on his grip and toss pieces on the floor.

Then he take deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He had job to do, hunt this beast Shadowcreep down, reward from that would get them enough gil to to get supplies.

Cloud walked out the building, his chocobo Rust was there waiting for him. He took bridle of the bird and went looking for Red.

Red was behind of big barn, near huge oak tree and he was waiting for him. For a moment they both stand there.

There were many gravestones under the great oak. Many could be generations back. Now they looked freasly dig ones. Those didn't even had gravestones yet.

"Did you get the scent?"

"I get clear scent of the last hunters and direction where they are going."

Cloud grunted and turned to look the farm. It had starting to get dark, there where only sliver of sun left on the horizon.

"Let's rest tonight, there should be food to Rust in the barn, so early tomorrow we go after those hunters and Shadowcreep."

The did sleep at barn, Cloud fed Rust with gysahl greens that were on the barn. It might be best meal Rust was going to get in next days.

They did ride whole next day, Red had clear scent and tracks to follow. Then went towards the mountains and area started to change, there were more hills and slopes

They make camp under few trees at small hill when night came.

"Are we catching hunters soon?" Cloud asked after they had eaten they evening meals.

"We can move faster then hunters before us, I'd say we catch them in tomorrow."

"Hopefully they had clearer picture where Shadowcreep might be.

"I think so, they go somewhat straight route."

"If I have to guess, beast has it lair near those mountains and had come grasslands to hunt." Red said and pointed his head towards the he hills.

"Well, I take you word for it." Cloud said, he had no doubt that Red was good hunter.

Suddenly Red did raised his head and was listening carefully. Cloud went silent and tried to listen as well, thought he know that Red hearing was better then his.

After a while, Red turned back to him.

"I think I heard something at distance." Red said.

"What?"

"It might had been explosion or something like that."

"Grenade?"

"Perhaps, I'm not sure." Red said still looking towards hills.

Cloud looked at the darkness. He could not see much further, Rust had not reacted anyway, chocobo had just went down near the trees.

"Perhaps the hunters caught the shadowcreep?"

"Could be, but now we can't help them now."

"I can stay on guard if you want to rest now." Cloud said.

"No need, I sleep lightly." Red did answer, his one-eye did glow at the dark.

"That is usually my line." Cloud said and put his back against the tree.

"Get some rest Cloud, we might need your sword tomorrow."

Cloud did put Buster Sword next to him, if beast would come tonight, he would get sword ready quickly. Both of them did sleep lightly that night.

At midday they were on the hills and they could not see far around them. Cloud followed Red at distance and looking back few times. Getting surprised from behind was something he did not want.

Then the noticed that Red had stopped and was waiting for him. Cloud stopped Rust next to him, chocobo was getting little restless, it too looked around.

"Wait here." Red said after while.

Red went over the hill, but this time he did move cautiously and hold his body more down. Cloud waited, looking around him.

After a moment Red come back and Cloud followed him, Red take him towards few trees.

Then Cloud noticed lonely chocobo, that was not uncommon in grasslands many herds of wild chocobo move around this area. But this Chocobo had saddle on it back, it was also little jumpy. Also it had get stuck on the trees on it's reins.

It looked warily when he did get closer, put it did let him next to him. Guess it was tired and seem to trust humans. Red did hold his distance and was looking around.

Chocobo seem fine, it was just stuck. Cloud cut it free, thought he had to use buster sword to do that.

Damn, I need to get a knife.

Cloud took some gysahl greens from the saddlebacks and offered it to chocobo, it took one look at them and then eat them. Cloud took it reins and put longer rope in them. Chocobo seem to follow him now.

After hour they found the hunters or what was left. Red check around the area that beast was not nearby.

Two dead chocobo were there, other ones head was torn off. Crow and vultures had already find they preys.

One place on the ground was scorched, like something was exploded there. Middle of it was remains of one of the hunters, that was not much.

Other hunter was on the ground, though his upper body was gone.

But now sign of the beast.

"Cloud, over here." Red said near big rocks.

When Cloud walked there, he noticed the hunter that was against the stones.

"He is still alive." Red said and took sniff.

That was surprise, because he looked pretty bad. Like someone had toss a rag doll against floor.

Cloud took healing materia on his hand, it might work or just prolong men sufferings.

Cloud poured it strength on the man, just maybe it could help.

After a while hunter did cough and open his eyes.

"You were hunters that went after the Shadowcreep." Cloud asked.

Hunter tried to answer, but could not get the words out. He was obviously in pain and tried to look around.

"That beast is no here now." Cloud said reassuringly.

"Water…"

Cloud took his water canteen and give man a sip.

"...two."

"Sorry two of your friends are dead."

"No… two.." Said and tried to say more, but then his eyes did close.

"Well, he might live." Red said.

They put man on shadow and give him little more healing. Perhaps he could survive, but he would need time to recover before they could remove him.

Cloud looked at the man, they could not do much for him now. They should take him back to Grass-Gate, but that trip would take several days.

"I got the scent of the beast, it not that far."

"You are sure?"

"Yeah, also it wounded, if I have to guess, one of those hunters did blow up some explosives on it's face."

Cloud looked scorched part on the ground.

"Maybe that was what you heard last night."

Red did grunted and turned around.

They both looked towards the hills.

"Let's get that beast." Cloud said.